Blog Archives

Flying High: Tibet Airlines

30/12/2015

China's relationship with Tibet is controversial to say the least (internationally anyway) and attempts in recent years to modernise the autonomous region have not always been welcomed by its native inhabitants. However the establishment of the region's own airline is something that I imagine most Tibetans have welcomed and greatly expands travel options in the mountainous and remote region.

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KrasAir: Failed Union

24/12/2015

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KrasAir (Krasnoyarsk Airlines or Krasnoyarskiye avialinii) was formed from the two Krasnoyarsk elements of the local Aeroflot CAD to become one of the largest airlines in Russia in the mid-2000s. Led by the Abramovich brothers it bravely attempted to combine multiple Russian airlines together into a major new force, but as with many other airlines found itself unable to cope with the severity of the economic crisis that hit Russia in 2008.

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The First Alohajets: One-Elevens in Hawaii

22/12/2015

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Air travel to Hawaii was booming in the 1960s off the back of non-stop jet services from the US West Coast and the island chains new found statehood. Aloha's Fairchild F-27s had proven excellent but were now too small and the movement everywhere was towards service with jets. Aloha wanted jets too but as a small intra-state airline it had to traverse a few bumps before it could get them.

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Hispaniolan Highlight: Dominicana

17/12/2015

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Many Latin American nations have long aviation histories thanks to pioneering immigrants and the not always benign influence of Pan Am. The Dominican Republic is one such country, which grew a modern and well run national airline only to see it collapse in on itself as corruption and competition took their toll. Compania Dominicana de Aviacion was founded as early as May 4, 1944, one of a string of airlines within Latin America that Pan Am helped found and held a stake in (40% in this case).

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BOAC in the 50s Pt2: Prop-Jets to Pure Jets

14/12/2015

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BOAC's introduction of short Britannia series 100s didn't alleviate its primary need for a competitive product on transatlantic routes, as it was really designed for the shorter Empire services to Africa rather than long overwater passages. The aircraft BOAC really needed was the enlarged series 300 however by the time it arrived jets were on the horizon. Though BOAC achieved numerous firsts with its new props and jets these would come at the cost of its competitiveness and profitability.

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BOAC in the 50s Pt1: Back to Props

12/12/2015

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Following the forced withdrawal of the Comet 1 BOAC was placed firmly on the backfoot, for though Britain had a worldbeater in the Vickers Viscount British manufacturers had failed miserably in providing a viable long range transport during the 1940s and early 50s. The Tudor, Brabazon, Hermes and Comet 1 had all fallen by the wayside leaving only the Whispering Giant: Bristol's Britannia carrying the torch for the UK. However the Brit was suffering monstrous delays of its own leaving BOAC with a quandary during 1954.

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Hawaiian Nines Pt3: DC-9s to Boeings (but still DC-9s)!

10/12/2015

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As the 1990s came to a close Hawaiian was faced once again with the question of how to replace its DC-9-51s. Once again the answer was with another DC-9, albeit one that by this time was a Boeing. Unlike issues with the MD-80s Hawaiian hit the jackpot with its 6th batch of different Nines and the B717 has become the mainstay of the entire inter-island Hawaiian islands network.

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Hawaiian Nines Pt2: Super 80s & back to 51s

5/12/2015

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Hawaiian entered the deregulated era in high confidence determined to keep its premier position on inter-island routes and to expand outside of Hawaii. As well as cutting costs growth was still in the air and even though its DC-9-51s were less than 5 years old the airline looked to again restock its inter-island fleet with the latest type from McDonnell Douglas.

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Hawaiian Nines Pt1: Jetbirds to Pualanis

3/12/2015

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By 1965 Hawaiian Airlines was a in a good place having posted record earnings for 1964 of $601,724 on gross revenues of $10,559,047. It had just celebrated its 35th anniversary and had carried over 10,000,000 passengers without a single passenger fatality. Turbo-props were just starting to join the fleet but the future for Hawaiian was jets.

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Flying High: Tibet Airlines

KrasAir: Failed Union

The First Alohajets: One-Elevens in Hawaii

Hispaniolan Highlight: Dominicana

BOAC in the 50s Pt2: Prop-Jets to Pure Jets

BOAC in the 50s Pt1: Back to Props

Hawaiian Nines Pt3: DC-9s to Boeings (but still DC-9s)!

Hawaiian Nines Pt2: Super 80s & back to 51s

Hawaiian Nines Pt1: Jetbirds to Pualanis

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